Iowa court upholds $32.8M Cooper tire case verdict

The Iowa Court of Appeals has upheld a $32.8 million jury award against Cooper Tire and Rubber Co., affirming it is in line with the evidence.

The case involves a 2007 crash near Bondurant that left a Des Moines woman dead and a man paralyzed.

Jurors found Cooper's manufacturing design caused the van's left rear tire to lose tread. The company appealed claiming the jury should not have heard evidence relating to tires substantially different from the one involved in the accident.

At trial Cooper attorney Terrance Miller questioned the tire's use and said the driver may have been speeding.

The appeals court, ruling Wednesday, says it won't overturn the jury's verdict "simply because it is larger than Cooper would like."

The company did not immediately return a call.

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